Downdraft diminishing means for



April 1953 w. T. ANDERSON 2,635,526

DOWNDRAF'T DIMINISHING MEANS FOR CHIMNEYS Filed March 1, 1951 William IAnderson IN VEN TOR.

BY WM 3m Patented Apr. 21, 1953 DOWNDRAFT DIMINISHING MEANS FOR CHIMNEYSWilliam T. Anderson, East Jaffrey, N. H. Application March 1, 1951,Serial No. 213,423

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to improved ways and means, through themedium of which the efficiency of operation of a chimney is improved andit has more particular reference to downdraft diminishing and checkingmeans.

It is a matter of common knowledge that when high winds are prevalentwithin the vicinity of a chimney, turbulous wind currents descend intothe chimney flue and create undesirable disturbances. This isobjectionable even when a fire is not burning in the fireplace, furnaceor elsewhere. However, it is all the more nervewracking andobjectionable when there is a blazing fire in existence in thefireplace. All sorts of chimney cowls, chimney tops and the like havebeen devised to insure the creation of effective updrafts withoutcommingling objectionable downdrafts. The present matter has to do withdowndraft regulators and eliminators in general and a significant objectof the invention is to structurally, functionally and otherwise improveupon known types of downdraft controls, particularly those which are inany manner installed within the limits of the chimney passage or flue.

Another object of the invention is to provide downdraft diminishingmeans which is in the nature of a readily applicable and removableinsert, the latter being comparatively simple, practical, economical andsuch in construction that installation and repairing is enhanced by theappropriateness of construction of the components which go to make upthe over-all insert means.

A further object of the invention is to provide simplified structuralmeans defining a downdraft diminishing device in which manufacturers,users and others will find their essential requirements and needs fullymet, contained and satisfactorily available.

In carrying out the invention a structural assemblage is adopted whichis characterized by an adapter unit and a pair of readily insertable andremovable truncated cone units.

More explicity, the invention appertains to the stated adapter unitwhich takes the form of a cylinder, said cylinder being provided on itsupper end with a suspension and hanging collar, the cone units beingfitted by tongue and groove association within the confines of thecylinder and being in vertically spaced relation. The uppermost coneunit is provided with a conical annulus which constitutes a canopy. Thecanopy is anchored on the chimney-top and hoods in umbrella fashion overthe suspension collar.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from thefollowing description and the accompanying sheet of illustrativedrawmgs.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings wherein like numerals are employedto designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of a conventionalchimney showing the improved draft intercepting and diminishing meansand the manner in which the same is constructed and installed;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section on the line 22 of Figure 1, looking inthe direction of the arrows; and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the complete insert.

Referring now to the drawings by reference numerals and accompanyinglead lines and with reference particularly to Figure 1, the numeral 4designates a brick or equivalent chimney, stack, or equivalentstructure. The adapter sleeve is a sheet material cylinder 6. This is ofsuitable cross section and length and telescopes into the passage 8 ofthe chimney. It is provided on its upper end with an endless annulus orflange [0 which constitutes a supporting and anchoring collar. Theflange will correspond in shape to the cross section of the chimney andwill, of course, be sufficiently large to properly suspend the cylinderin the passageway of the chimney. The lower end portion of the cylinderis provided with an annular channel l2 which may be referred to as akeeper groove. This is adapted to accommodate a corresponding andcomplemental bead or tongue l4 carried by the lower open end or baseportion I6 of a truncated cone l8. The latter is in effect a bafile andthe upper tapering and truncated end is, of course, spaced from theinternal surfaces of the bore of the cylinder. Thus, we have a truncatedconical baflle held by a tongue and groove connection in the lower endportion of the cylinder. A similar truncated conical bafiie 20 isprovided and this too has a cylindrical base portion 22 having a bead ortongue 24 fitting removably into a retaining keeper groove 26. The uppertruncated end portion of the upper cone or baiile 20 extends above theupper flanged end of the adapter sleeve. This upper end is provided witha conoidal apron or canopy 28. This is welded at 30 to the uppertruncated end of the cone and. is of a size to extend beyond the collarl0 and to hood over and cover the collared upper end of the adaptersleeve. The collar and canopy are both anchored in a cement orequivalent cap 32 on the upper end of the chimney. It follows that thecollar covers the space between the adapter sleeve and the bore orpassage of the chimney. The canopy 28 extends over the collar and coversthe upper end portion of the adapter sleeve in the desired hood-likefashion. It is obvious that the manner in which the canopy hoods overthe flanged adapter sleeve or cylinder provides a necessary weathershield and rainwater is, of course, prevented from accumulating in thepocket which exists between the cone 20 and the sleeve.

It is clear that the collar and canopy provide ideal cooperating membersfor secureand practical anchoring of the parts 6 and 20 on the chimney.The low silhouette of this downdraft attachment is an attractive featureto those who object to a change in the upper end construction of aresidential or equivalent chimney. In fact, the device, when installed,will extend no more than three inches above the brickwork and willhardly be noticeable.

It is believed that the several views of the drawing will singly andcollectively reveal all necessary details of construction, the functionsand coordination of parts.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the inventionrelates will be able to obtain a clear understanding. of the inventionafter considering the description in connection with the drawings.Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes. in shape, size and arrangement of details coming withinthe field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, ifdesired;

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A downdraft interceptor and diminishing attachment for a chimneycomprising a vertically elongated cylindrical adapter sleeve designed totelescope into the passage of a chimney, an outstanding supportingflange united with the upper end of said sleeve and adapted to rest atopthe chimney, and insertable and removable conical baflles mounted insaid sleeve, each baffle being in the form of a truncated cone, eachbaffle being provided at its lower end with a keying bead and saidsleeve having keying grooves into which the respective beads arefriction fitted.

2. A downdraft interceptor and diminishing attachment for a chimneycomprising a cylindrical adapter sleeve, adapted to telescope into thepassage of a chimney, an outstanding supporting flange attached to theupper end of said sleeve and adapted to rest on the chimney, andinsertable and removable conical baflles mounted in said sleeve, eachbaflie being in the form of a truncated cone, having tongue and grooveconnection with the sleeve.

3; The structure as specified in claim 2 wherein the upper cone isprovided with a canopy which is adapted to overlie the sleeve and toextend beyond the flange for attachment to a chimney.

WILLIAM T. ANDERSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 236,507 Mihan Jan. 11, 1881 256,919 Patterson Apr. 25, 1882454,492 Oster June 23, 1891 1,700,018 Blanchard Jan. 22, 1929 2,408,665Lovely Oct. 1, 1946 2,573,436 Gray Oct. 30, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS NumberCountry Date 13,918 Great Britain 1909

